GE Hitachi, the nuclear business of GE Vernova, will invest over $50m at its nuclear fuel manufacturing plant in Wilmington, North Carolina.
This investment is intended to enhance the safety, quality, and productivity of the site.
The North Carolina factory is operated by Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF)-Americas (GNF-A), a GE Vernova-led joint venture with Hitachi.
The investment will also help launch a new next-generation nuclear fuel design, a key part of GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR).
The BWRX-300 is said to be the only advanced reactor using an approved, existing fuel.
GE Vernova said that expanding fuel manufacturing capacity strengthens the BWRX-300’s position as the most readily deployable advanced reactor on the market.
The upgrade will also expand automation at the nuclear fuel plant.
The Wilmington plant has been producing fuel since 1968 and serves the US’ boiling water reactor fleet. This expansion prepares the plant to meet growing global nuclear energy demand.
The latest investment is part of GE Vernova’s recently announced plans to invest nearly $600m in US facilities over the next two years.
The company’s investments will support increased gas turbine production, grid solutions, renewable energy, and electrification.
Notable projects include expansions in South Carolina, New York, and Pennsylvania, along with advancements in research and technology at its Niskayuna, New York hub.
GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik said: “These investments represent our serious commitment and responsibility as the leading energy manufacturer in the US to help meet America’s and the world’s accelerating energy demand.
“These strategic investments and the jobs they create aim to both help our customers meet the doubling of demand and accelerate American innovation and technology development to boost the country’s energy security and global competitiveness.”
GE Hitachi is engaged in providing nuclear fuel bundles, services, and advanced nuclear reactor designs.
GE Vernova’s GNF is a supplier of boiling water reactor fuel and engineering services.
GNF, through GNF-A, also operates Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan in Kurihama, Japan.
In October 2022, GNF-A and TerraPower announced an agreement to build the Natrium Fuel Facility at the Wilmington site with a joint investment of over $200m.
Recently, GE Hitachi joined a coalition of utility companies and supply chain partners to speed up the deployment of the BWRX-300 SMR in the US.
Last week, GE Hitachi was selected by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) along with Bechtel and Sargent & Lundy to support the Clinch River Nuclear site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
